Chapter Thirty-Six: This Decaying Feudal Society Is My Ruin

"Sizzle."

Grease dripped onto the charcoal stove. The marinated mutton blossomed with an enticing aroma on the iron plate. Wu Lijun rested her chin in her hands, stealing glances at An Xin, her thoughts hidden. Her slightly chubby, baby-faced cheeks were flushed red by the glow of the furnace.

A breeze blew by. The narrow street near Crescent Lake in Red Medicine Ward was bustling. The Sun Mutton Grill was packed with guests, so much so that small vendors selling fruits and pastries had gathered in front of the shop to hawk their wares. Across the street at the bathhouse, people carrying bamboo baskets of laundry moved in and out. At the corner, a candy-figurine seller performed his craft for a crowd of children. Further off, the cry of the knife sharpener echoed: "Sharpening scissors! Grinding kitchen knives!"

"There’s a fire-breathing performance at Crescent Lake today, it’s free to watch."

"And molten iron fireworks, too."

Although it was merely a street in a local residential district, it hummed with the vibrant spirit of life. Sitting on a small folding stool, An Xin watched the lively scene, a sudden, dizzying sense of having returned to his previous life washing over him.

"Brother Zhang."

Wu Lijun’s call brought An Xin back to reality. Her mouth was full, making her look like a little hamster, and a happy smile danced on her pretty face.

"Wait for me a moment."

An Xin stood up, walked to a fruit stall at the shop entrance, and returned with a basket of mandarin oranges. He peeled one and handed half to Wu Lijun. "I love oranges; I only just saw them for sale today."

"I love them too." Wu Lijun happily ate the orange he gave her. "They just came into season; I only saw them today as well."

The convenience of greenhouse farming and logistics in the future had long made An Xin forget the seasonality of various fruits and vegetables. The meat on the grill had turned a golden brown, its savory aroma fully released, making one’s mouth water.

"Brother Zhang, try the venison. It’s delicious." Wu Lijun placed two pieces into his dish. She was clearly a professional gourmet, her eyes sparkling as she ate.

The barbecue included both mutton and venison, served with a dipping sauce of sesame, pepper, crushed peanuts, and other spices An Xin couldn’t name. If only there were a bit of chili, it would be perfect! After all, it was a seventy-year-old establishment; even merchants traveling from afar would seek it out specifically. While not cheap, it was truly delicious.

— Mission accomplished.

"Safe travels, honored guest."

Amidst the proprietor's fawning farewells, An Xin held Wu Lijun’s hand and walked toward Crescent Lake. By the time they arrived, the performance had already begun. The roads, the tree branches, and the boats on the lake were all crowded with people. In the small square before Crescent Lake, numerous lanterns marked "Su Family Silk Shop" hung prominently.

"The Su family just opened a silk shop, so they commissioned these performances," Wu Lijun explained. "Two years ago, when the Wu Family Cloth Shop opened, we did the same thing here—hired a troupe and everything. It was just as lively as this."

The "iron tree" of molten iron exploded into silver flowers in the night sky, flickering in her dark pupils as if reflecting the stars. An Xin put an arm around her slender waist. Wu Lijun’s face turned as red as a monkey’s bottom, but she did not resist; instead, she quietly leaned her head against his shoulder. The scent of sweet osmanthus from her hair drifted into his nose.

The corners of his mouth curled into a smile. In this "foreign land," his previously empty heart felt as if it were gradually being filled.

Wu Lijun remained immersed in the sweetness of their romance until the performance ended. It wasn't until after nine o'clock, when the crowds on the street began to disperse and Wuren County grew quiet, that her heart became restless again. "Brother Zhang, I have to go home."

"I’ll see you home."

An Xin held her hand. The distance from Crescent Lake to the Wu residence in Peony Ward was not short, but to Wu Lijun, it felt as if they had arrived in the blink of an eye. Looking at An Xin, she asked, "Brother Zhang, you will marry me, won't you?"

Although the gender segregation in the Great Yan Dynasty was not as severe as in the Ming Dynasty of his previous world's history, and the social atmosphere in Wuzhou was more open than in the north, for a woman, her actions today had required immense courage.

An Xin nodded gently. Yet, his mind suddenly drifted to his lingering, long-distance girlfriend from before he crossed over—he wondered how she was doing now. Then, the bright and alluring face of Qin Shiyue abruptly popped into his thoughts.

*Always wanting more.*

On his way back to the county office, An Xin felt he might have the makings of a scumbag. "I never felt this way before! It must be this corrupt feudal society ruining me!"

The moon drifted through the mist. As An Xin returned to the yamen gate, he saw Hu Changshan riding toward him. Hu leaped from his horse from a distance and ran to his side. He was wearing leather armor, military boots, and a goose-quill saber hung at his waist, looking formidable.

"How are things? How is the capability of the person recommended by Mistress Qin?"

An Xin and Hu Changshan walked into the county office together.

"Reporting to the Magistrate, Wei Shuye has already entered the camp; the other two will arrive in two days. This subordinate believes Wei Shuye’s approach is sound. He declared to me that starting tomorrow, there will be three days of strict discipline enforcement. Entering the camp tonight, he summoned the archers and read the 'Great Yan Code: Military Law,' strictly enforcing the 'Ten Prohibitions and Ten Executions.' Starting tomorrow morning, anyone who fails to show up for roll call within a quarter of an hour will receive thirty strokes of the cane..."

Hu Changshan recounted what he had seen in the camp that evening and discussed Wei Shuye’s training plan.

"Call Clerk Wan over."

When they reached the third hall, An Xin saw the light still on in Clerk Wan’s room and decided to have him work overtime.

"Magistrate." Wan Zewen hurried to the back office.

"A few days ago, the military office took inventory of the armory. Most of the stored weapons and armor have rotted away. We can only scrape together eighty sets of barely usable gear. Do you have a solution?"

Thinking back to the inventory, An Xin still felt a surge of anger. Because of a lack of maintenance, many sabers had rusted and rotted when drawn; some leather armor had molded away, and several crossbows were unusable due to improper storage. He had been so furious that he immediately had the armory keeper arrested and scolded the records officer, Huang Shouyin, right on the spot, leaving him humiliated and disgraced.

Wan Zewen replied, "I was just about to report to you, Magistrate. Today, I have already sent men to summon craftsmen to forge new weapons. The county workshop currently has twelve craftsmen, and I have recruited over eighty more—fifty carpenters, twenty blacksmiths, and over ten leatherworkers. They will all arrive within two days, and we will be able to complete all the ordnance within a month."

"Good." An Xin praised him, then instructed, "The importance of ordnance is no less than training in the camp. Aside from the two bandit groups entrenched in Wuren County, these are troubled times. According to today's gazette, there is fighting in the north, and in the southwest, General Pei is suppressing a rebellion. Closer to home, Japanese pirates land on the coast of Dongyang from time to time; at their furthest, they once reached Wuren County along the Luo River. We must be prepared. This unit of archers is one I intend to train seriously into a victorious army. Therefore, you must keep a close eye on this—don't just rely on the clerks in the military office."

"This student understands."

Wan Zewen knew how much importance An Xin placed on these archers. He could tell just by the large sums of silver the Magistrate had unstintingly provided. He then recommended, "There is a blacksmith in the Metallurgical Zhang Workshop named Ge Rong. I have interacted with him; he came to Wuren County as a refugee last year. His craft is extraordinary, and he is a methodical man. I intend to appoint him as the master craftsman in charge of all equipment production for the armory."

"That is perfectly fine."

Wan Zewen’s efficiency had already earned An Xin's approval. Regarding the person he recommended, An Xin thought for a moment and gave his consent.

"Changshan, prepare the sedan chair for the camp tomorrow."

Only authority and power should never be delegated to others. Tomorrow, when he distributed pay and rations, he would make sure these soldiers clearly understood whose rice they were eating and whose wages they were collecting.